Application of 3-D printing technology in the diagnosis and treatment of proximal epiphyseal fracture of tibia in adolescents / 实用医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the feasibility of 3-D printing technology in the application of proxi-mal tibial epiphyseal injury fracture surgery for teenagers. Methods Clinical materials of the 8 patients with proxi-mal tibial epiphyseal injury fracture who were admitted to our hospital from January 2014 to March 2016 were retro-spectively analyzed. CT data of all patients was collected before the surgery and was used for fracture 3-D recon-struction with Minics software to print out the 11 physical model. Meanwhile,surgical simulation was carried out on the 3-D model to design the internal fixation scheme,and all intraoperative operations were implemented in line with the preoperative planning. Postoperative brace immobilization and the early-stage function exercise were taken and growth situation of the affected limbs and fracture healing were observed and recorded. In line with the modified Hohl and Luck knee score standards,knee functional score was taken 12 months after the surgery. Results All pa-tients received postoperative follow-up service for 12 to 18 months,with the average of 15.3 months. All patients were bony union,with the excellent knee score rate of 100%. The full-length axis of two limbs was compared be-tween the postoperative reexamination and no premature skeleton closure. Pronation and supination of the knee,un-stable joints and other complications were investigated. No obvious differences were found among the activity of the affected limbs and 12-month growth length after the surgery and that of the uninjured side. Conclusions 3-D printing technology is a strong clinical guidance to the treatment of proximal tibial epiphyseal injury fracture surgery for teenagers.